Finding drugs to fight diseases such as cancer can be a lot like searching for a needle in a haystack — there are millions of possibilities. Fortunately, Kit S. Lam, a distinguished professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and the Sue Jane Leung Presidential Chair in Cancer Research, invented a method called “one-bead-one-compound.” It rapidly synthesizes and screens millions of chemicals at a time to identify those that bind to diseased cells or those endowed with specific biological or chemical properties. By quickly narrowing the field of chemicals down to good potential drug candidates, this method is advancing the early detection and precise delivery of treatments for cancers. In addition, this method is helping researchers discover new agents for studying diseases to improve diagnosis and treatment. Lam’s research may contribute to solving many medical problems.
